When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the SunChaser 8520 CR 2008 and the SunChaser Oasis 820 FNC 2013 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The SunChaser Oasis 820 FNC 2013 measures 20,1 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 18,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the SunChaser 8520 CR 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the SunChaser 8520 CR 2008 tips the scales at 1 875 lbs — 130 lbs more than the SunChaser Oasis 820 FNC 2013 at 1 745 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 90 hp for the SunChaser 8520 CR 2008 and 90 hp for the SunChaser Oasis 820 FNC 2013. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The SunChaser 8520 CR 2008 is rated for 12 passengers, while the SunChaser Oasis 820 FNC 2013 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the SunChaser 8520 CR 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the SunChaser 8520 CR 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The SunChaser Oasis 820 FNC 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.